"Dubbo already has a university, a medical school and a dental training clinic," Warrick Wheeler said.

"Why can't we enhance those services with a metropolitan-standard hospital?"

Mr Wheeler, the former spokesman for the Dubbo Orana Cancer Action Team (DOCAT), questions why governments allow bureaucrats to constantly position medical infrastructure in major metropolitan cities.

"There are so many rural and remote people who need treatment," he said.

"Getting to and from Sydney can be difficult. Dubbo is an important centre in regional NSW. We deserve better medical services."

Mr Wheeler said his family was hit hard when an uncle was diagnosed with cancer and died the same year.

"That was back in 2007," he said.

"After being affected in that way I wanted to give something back.

"In 2008 I was asked to get involved in the Cancer Council's Relay for Life. In 2009-10 DOCAT approached me to assist with an application to obtain funding put forward by (then prime minister) Kevin Rudd for 10 radiotherapy cancer centres around Australia.

"Orange won that bid and we didn't end up putting in a submission. A lot of effort was made but we were told the hospital and range of medical services in Dubbo did not support the need for a radiotherapy unit at that time.

"DOCAT started lobbying for a hospital upgrade but there was no master plan. We assisted in getting at least some action on the hospital when the current government made an election campaign promise to fund the hospital redevelopment going ahead at the moment.

"Back in 2010 doctors were saying Dubbo needed new and better surgical facilities. That is now happening.

"With better theatre facilities we can offer better cancer surgery. Now is the time to provide radiotherapy.

"If I was still involved in DOCAT I would be asking the health minister about the plans for the next stages of Dubbo Hospital.

"Dubbo needs to build on its medical infrastructure and medical fraternity so that we have the facilities here to diagnose and treat. We deserve more than fly-in and fly-out medical services."

Mr Wheeler said "it was not OK" Orange and Sydney had cancer services and Dubbo missed out altogether or had services withdrawn in favour of Orange.

"Dubbo Hospital staff can never speak publicly but they are annoyed about what has happened," he said.

"Decision makers do not seem to even consider the people living west of Dubbo and how far they have to travel to access cancer treatment or the difficulties involved in all the travelling.

"If you are ill and cannot drive you have to rely on a family member taking time off work or school to get to a treatment centre.

"If you are from Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Wilcannia or wherever you are not going to drive five hours to get to Dubbo and another one-and-a-half hours to get to Orange. You will just hop on a plane in Dubbo and get to Sydney.

"We said that three years ago but DOCAT was told Dubbo didn't have the facilities to support a proposed radiotherapy unit.

"Until doctors see the promise of radiotherapy in Dubbo they won't even think about coming here. Why would they?

"It is good to see work being done at Dubbo Hospital and I would like to see provision made for services we don't have.

"We need space for a radiation bunker and additional oncology services."

Mr Wheeler said it was not good enough to have treatment in as few centres as possible with Sydney the primary location and some satellite centres.

He called on government to be up front about what was planned for Dubbo Hospital.

"The problem is the bureaucrats probably have five or six draft plans under consideration and none may ever become a reality," Mr Wheeler said.

"It all depends on what political party is in power.

"It is a frustrating situation and I am only a health activist. I am no longer part of any organisation and can only speak as an individual. Smarter people than me can't seem to solve the health infrastructure problems in Dubbo but surely they can see that our medical facilities seem to be going backwards."